I have been having really good luck on getting tops to fit me without doing a muslin so I thought I'd try this top. The pattern only went up to a size 12 and after reading reviews about it fitting snug in the bust, I cut it larger there and out to probably a 16 for the hips. I did my usual size 10 for the shoulders. It fits nicely through the shoulders and bust and will take it is some in the hips. I have short arms but large biceps so I cut a larger sleeve plus shortened the sleeves. I tried the sleeves on before sewing them in and they fit fine. So I basted them in the top and the biceps are so tight and I can't reach forward. The only thing I can think of that would cause this is perhaps the armholes are too low. Your thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I may have a wadder!

It sounds like a broad back adjustment is needed.
If you don't already have it, try to find this book: "Fit for Real People" by Palmer and Pletsch. Every possible bodice adjustment is given, in an easily accessible style and format.
If possible, find a "Fitting Buddy" to help you analyze your pattern and pin out or help slash where needed.
I'm going through all of this for the first time right now, so I hope that this helps; it sure makes a difference in how your patterns can be made to fit (for me, anyway).
Hugs,
Tina in San Diego

I think maybe you (and also them as in the pattern, just for free movement purposes v.s. style look)has got the arm holes too low or the whole arm hole is just not tight enough and close fitting enough, to even your very own arm hole socket on your own body, to really even be able to move your arms all the way forwards. Getting that arm hole smaller and closer to your body, so you have more range of arm movement, where the two are sewn into together, might really fix that. Just since you are sewing a smaller narrower tube (the sleeve) to larger one, (the whole blouse body). If you got the intersection of those, more where your real arm and shoulder intersect, on something real fitted to you, then you just got more movement capability. Not sure how you are going to add more fabric in, to what is already cut off at all though.

If you really like the pattern, maybe make it as a more stretchable knit next time, and then you would have more arm movement range, probably no matter what in it.

It might not even be just you or anything particular to your body at all though, more just the style and drafting of that particular blouse and how they have the shoulders and sleeves of it. Some styles, and how the sleeves are, are just more like that than others.

I noticed on everyone else that put a photo up of that blouse, it looked to me that they probably did not have full movement and reach of their arms either, as in maybe even not being able to extend their arms straight out and then together in front of themselves even clasping their hands together, or even be able reach up all the way to the ceiling without it pulling or bunching up, or restricting their arm movement either actually.

Also some people, just get used to that kind of more restricted movement from within their clothes (even in store bought clothes) and that does not bother them or not much. Some people it really does. I'm in the "camp" of it really bothers me, when that happens, and I really do, want full range of arm movement no matter what I'm wearing, but to do that, some styles of clothes and sets of a sleeve, probably are just not always even going to work for that. -- Edited on 11/2/13 2:10 PM --

You have both issues going on-need a broad back and a change in the armholes. When you take the sleeves off, take a picture of your back and see how the back looks and where the armholes are placed on your back. I think adding facings and going with a sleeveless is a great way to save it.

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